Today is a day of celebration and solemn reflection. It is the
anniversary of the day Nigerians realised one of the most cherished of human
desires – the desire for freedom. We, therefore, give thanks to and remember
our founding fathers who laboured so hard and sacrificed so much to build and
bequeath to us this wonderful nation. It is our duty to consolidate this great
legacy.

2. On this first October date and on the eve of the start of the general
election cycle, we should do well to reflect on what binds us together and the
great strength our diversity bestows on us. Ours is an ambitious nation, and,
as citizens we have every right to look forward to the future with confidence
and optimism which are well founded, considering where we find ourselves today.

3. There has been a steady improvement in the security situation in the
North East. We remain committed to ending the crisis and make the North East
safe for all.

4. Our thoughts and prayers are always with the victims of the Boko
Haram’s atrocities and their families. Beyond that, we know that the goals of
the Boko Haram terrorists include capturing territories, destroying our
democracy and denying our children the right to education. We will not allow
them to succeed.

5. I want at this point to pay tribute to the men and women of our armed
forces, the Police and other security and law enforcement agencies, who have
been working under the most difficult conditions to keep the country safe. In
the process, many have made the supreme sacrifice.

6. As their Commander -In- Chief, I assure these our gallant men and
women that I will continue to empower them by deepening their professionalism
and providing all the necessary force multipliers and enablers required for
them to prevail on the field. I am looking into all reported cases of
inadequacies in relation to their entitlements, their welfare and those of
their families.

7. We are diversifying away from reliance on oil to increased
manufacturing capacity, solid minerals development, and agriculture.

8. Efforts are on course in the Niger Delta to clean up polluted lands,
restore hopes of the youths in the region and re-establish livelihoods, and
strengthen their capacity to guarantee for themselves and for our country a
brighter future.

9. The age-long conflict between herders and farmers that was being
exploited by those seeking to plant the seeds of discord and disunity amongst
our people, is being addressed decisively. We will sustain and continue to
support the commendable efforts by all including civil society organisations,
local and states governments and our traditional and religious leaders in
finding durable solution to this problem.

10. This being a transhumance issue, we are working with countries in
our region that are also facing similar difficulties to complement our common
efforts. In this context I must warn that the perpetrators of murder and
general mayhem in the name of defending or protecting herders or farmers will
face the full wrath of the law. Meanwhile, we urge all peace-loving Nigerians
to reject any simplistic portrayal, at home or abroad, of this conflict as
either religious or ethnic based.

11. We are one of the countries in the world most affected by
environmental degradation, as a consequence of climate change. We are
signatories to almost all conventions and agreements aimed at slowing down the
effect of climate change and mitigating its now evident consequences.

12. The consequences on lives and livelihoods of the shrinking of the
Lake Chad and the pollution caused by oil exploitation activities alone make it
mandatory on us to be at the forefront of the struggle for a safer and more
sustainable environment. We will continue to mobilise international support for
our efforts in this regard.

13. We are making progress in the fight against corruption and recovery
of stolen public funds and assets despite vicious and stiff resistance. The
shameful past practice, of the brazen theft of billions of Naira is no more.
Shady oil deals and public contracts that were never delivered have become
things of the past.

14. Consequently, and this is very evident across the country, we have
done more with less in infrastructural developments. Roads, railways, major
bridges, schools, energy and power, air and sea ports, welfare of serving and
retired personnel both civilian and military including payment of legacy debt
such as pension arrears, have been attended to.

15. There is now an enabling environment for local and foreign
investment in Nigeria. We are building a rules-based system – a level playing
field that is free from fixers and intermediaries. This is the cornerstone to
help genuine investors and honest consumers, and the platform that will allow
for the real reforms that we intend to deliver over the coming years.

16. We are gradually strengthening the economy with a stable Naira and
falling inflation rate. We are building an economy that is moving away from
over reliance on oil. Consequently we have witnessed massive return to farms
and seen bumper harvest, despite recurrent floods across the country.

17. These positive developments are the result of our collective pursuit
of a common vision through hard work and dedication, after the missed
opportunities and disappointments that followed the return to democracy in
1999.

18. At the forefront, have always been our youths. They have been at the
vanguard of the struggle for independence. They fought in the war to keep the
country united. And it was they who kept alive the struggle for democracy and
human rights in our country at times when these were at risk, especially
following the June 12th 1993 election and the historic 2015 election process.

19. Even today, our youths play a central role in Nigeria’s continuing
progress and developments in all fields of our national endeavour –technology,
agriculture, mining, engineering and especially the creative arts. Together we
are building a more diverse, inclusive and self-reliant economy.

20. In the past three years we have introduced many policies and
programmes targeted at youth development and youth empowerment. We support the
‘not too young to run’ legislation aimed at giving the youths greater say in
our national politics and governance.

21. The school feeding program in primary schools is aimed at
encouraging enrolment and attendance. We are building on what we have already
introduced to support schools and universities to which funds have recently
been released for upgrade of facilities, training programs for our
entrepreneurs, and rehabilitation schemes for victims of terrorism and human
trafficking.

Fellow Nigerians,

22. Now we have in our hands technology that is a powerful tool that we
can and should use for knowledge and understanding. As with other countries, we
must also learn how to manage those tendencies that, instead, look to abuse new
technologies to provoke passions and stir tensions.

23. Never before have we faced such a challenge. We must all rise to the
responsibility of shutting out those disruptive and corrosive forces that hide
in today’s world of social media. We need critical minds and independent
thinking, to question and question until we are satisfied we have the facts.
Otherwise, all the progress we have made as a democracy since 1999 is at stake.

24. I have committed myself many times to ensure that elections are
fully participatory, free and fair and that the Independent National Electoral
Commission will be exactly INDEPENDENT and properly staffed and resourced. The
ballot box is how we make our choice for the governments that rule in our name.

Fellow Nigerians,

25. Developing a thriving democracy is not an easy task. There can be no
quick fixes or short cuts. These are the most important lessons that we have
learnt in our 58 years as an independent nation.

26. At the international level, we remain a responsible and respected
member of the international community, playing active positive roles within
ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations as well as all other regional
and international organisations and institutions of which we are members.

27. We will continue to support initiatives aimed at addressing the
challenges of our times: global and regional crises and conflicts, terrorism,
trans-border crime, climate change, human rights, gender equality, development,
poverty and inequality within and between nations, etc. In this context, we are
working hard to achieve both the AU 2063 Agenda for socio-economic
transformation of our continent; and the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable
development, which together aim at addressing these challenges

Fellow Nigerians,

28. As we celebrate the 58th Anniversary of our independence, we know we
are on the right path. Although we have our differences, they count for far less
than the values, virtues and common aspirations that unite us as a nation. We
have so much for which we should be grateful, and in which we should rightly
take pride. Our journey is not finished but we have come a long way.

29. I want to assure you that as President, I will continue to work
tirelessly to promote, protect and preserve what really matters: a united,
peaceful, prosperous and secure Nigeria, where all, irrespective of background,
can aspire to succeed.